We had an awesome start to the year handing out 600 Impact bags with food, laundry soap, water, and Impact group meeting times. The thing that was most interesting was those that seemed surprised that a “Christian” group was handing out bags of stuff with no expectation of a sign up list or any strings attached. We simply wanted to welcome students back to Indiana University of South Bend and let them know that someone cares. That’s it, Jesus loves them and so do we. Do we want them to come to our bible studies? Sure! But the main goal was for them to feel loved and wanted. The more they see the love of Jesus, hopefully the more open they will be to getting involved with a campus ministry group!

Community is a big key in campus ministry. One of the biggest issues that college students face is the need to find a place to belong. It may be a club, sports team, or a particular group of new friends and at a secular college it can mean doing things they wouldn’t normally do. Many students are willing to sacrifice the quality of their community in order to fit in and as a campus ministry, we want to be that place. Our goal with the bag hand out was simple:

Rich Mullins was one of my favorite song writers. Rich had a way of telling a story and painting a picture of the everyday struggle to be a real talmid (disciple) of Jesus in a modern world. His words and music resonate with me still because his joy, compassion, brokenness and unblinking honesty all served his greatest desire, pointing people toward God.

In our campus ministry work, our greatest desire is to be talmidim (disciples) of Jesus. This weeks discussion at Indiana U. of South Bend centered on the last segments of Matthew chapter 5.

Matthew 5:38-48 (ESV) 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wether it’s on campus, at a job, in the public schools or some other corner of the society we live in, as Christians we often find ourselves tempted to be defensive when we are challenged or attacked because we hold the Bible to be truth. How many times do we see in some aspect of social media vicious words spoken… on both sides? These passages in Matthew are the teachings Jesus used to train his talmidim. His words are true for us as well. People outside of Christ do not hold the Bible to be truth. Using it to hit them over the heads does nothing because we are not on equal footing. As talmidim, we are called to be different… uncommon… why? because our God is different! Those that hate us because of Jesus may still hate us, but if we act any other way than the way Jesus teaches in the sermon on the mount, we lose our credibility and our witness and we sure aren’t pointing people towards Jesus. Those we are retaliating against will never see anything in Christians other than hate if we act the same as everyone else. These words of Jesus apply to all of us who aspire to be one of His talmidim. Anyone remember the trendy Christian thing “WWJD” (what would Jesus do)? We know what he would do and have us do… love those who oppose and hate us, pray for them, forgive them. It’s not a level playing field, how can we expect them to act any different if they don’t believe? Being a talmid of Jesus I know the truth and I need to have His words be reflected in my daily life. If I don’t, how can I be an arrow pointing to heaven?

What a week! On Monday, we spent one and a half hours in worship and prayer with students at Bethel College. Most of our students are now taking finals or preparing for finals next week. Our weekly groups studies at Indiana University South Bend, Bethel College, and Saint Mary’s College are done for the semester so Jill and I are transitioning into full time support raising for the next 58 days. We have to be on campus full time and cannot do that until we are fully funded. Our goal is to be fully funded and be on campus full time by July 1st so that we can plan and prepare for incoming and returning students. Today we stuffed over 240 envelops to spread the news about our final support raising push!

There is a reason we need to be available full time. We have far more ministry that needs to take place than what we can do being on campus part time. But even with limited time, God can make incredible ministry take place. Here are some words from a graduating student, Josh Oliver:

“I would like to take this opportunity to share some of my memories and to thank a few people from Impact. It seems like only yesterday we were meeting in Lowell’s basement. Humble beginnings is how we’ve described it. I remember the first thing we studied was Dean Trune’s book, “The Path Towards Passion”. Learning the different spiritual disciplines and how to put them into practice has been a valuable tool over the years. Joining Impact was one of the greatest things that’s ever happened. I was surrounded by others that love Jesus and are walking the same road I am. Being able to learn and share with each other as a community is something I’ll never forget. I remember when I was first asked to join the Student Leadership Team. I considered it an honor and privilege to serve my fellow students. At times it was a challenge but those were moments of growth. Impact has started and will continue to leave a legacy on the students that share in its ministry. I know it has for me. To those that have gone before me and those that will come after, what legacy have you left on Impact and what legacy has it left with you?”

If God working through his part time servants can affect a student in this manner, how many more can be affected on the campus when his servants are there full time?

Today was a banner day, today we kicked off our final campaign to be fully funded! Stay tuned for regular updates!

Our campus group at Indiana University South Bend has been spending the semester in the book of James. Last week we looked at the last part of chapter three where James writes about man’s wisdom vs God’s wisdom.

3:13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

In the discussion we hit a lot on motive. Why do we do the things we do? Is it to put on a good show, is it to create division? The things we say, even include in our prayers, are they born out of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control? If bitterness, jealousy, and anger are the things that are fueling us… our actions or decisions, then we need to look a bit deeper and take a reality check on our motives. As we moved the discussion into chapter four, the motive theme still resonates when we ask God in prayer but do not receive because we ask with wrong motives.

When I was a kid, I hated going back to school. We didn’t start until around the third or fourth week of August so that meant by August 15th, I was in official dislike mode for the month. It meant summer was over and I really didn’t like that very much. Truth be told, I don’t really enjoy the fact that my daughters head back to middle school and elementary school on August 13th. But I have learned to love this month because it does mean our college students will be on campus. That is awesome and I am excited to see what God will do this year on our campuses in South Bend!!

End of the year BBQ May 2012

In just a couple of weeks, our students will begin to arrive and we will be up to our elbows in students. Many of them have already experienced the freedoms and challenges that come with life on campus. But to the incoming freshmen, this will be a new thing. Many of them were able to cruise through their last year of high school but now are faced with the unknown. Where do I buy my own groceries? Where can I go to do laundry? Where is the cheapest gas? How am I going to pay my school bill so that I can register for next semester? Where am I going to fit in? These are all stressors coupled with the pressure to make the grades and learning how to get up for class when no one is around to make you. Building relationships, getting to know students when they arrive on campus can be a huge help. Getting them connected into a safe community of students where they can grow spiritually and in maturity can make all the difference in the world. It is the gospel of Jesus in action that opens the doors for God to change lives.